Edinburgh University scientists awarded £46.3m for research into ‘dark genome’
The funding has been awarded by the Medical Research Council.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Scientists at a Scottish university have been awarded more than £40 million for work which will include research into the so-called dark genome.
A total of £46.3 million has been awarded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) to the MRC Human Genetics Unit at Edinburgh University.
With the work to include research into the 98% of DNA which is underexplored, scientists said their work could ultimately help people living with genetic conditions and cancer.
The five-year funding will support research into this dark genome – which was previously referred to as “junk” DNA.
But its is hoped this work could help provide new insights into complex genetic diseases.
Scientists will use collaborative research and new techniques to explore these understudied areas of DNA in a bid to develop further the understanding of human genetic disease.
Since the human genome was first sequenced in 2003, research has mainly focused on parts of DNA that contain instructions for making proteins – the fundamental building blocks of all organisms.
However, these account for only 2% of the three billion letters that make up the human genome.
The MRC funding, which represents a significant investment in UK genomics research, will enable scientists to focus on the remaining parts of DNA.
Professor Wendy Bickmore, director of the MRC Human Genetics Unit at the University of Edinburgh, said: “It’s exciting that we now have so much human genome sequence data, but we need to turn that data into knowledge about how our genome works in health and disease.
“This new funding will enable us to tackle that challenge together, harnessing experimental and computational expertise to better understand, manage and treat disease and, ultimately, improve the lives of people living with genetic conditions and cancers.”